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Hemiplegic Shoulder PainESWT-HSPNCT07485192

Comparison of the Efficacy of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy and Suprascapular Nerve Block in Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain

A study testing Conventional therapy group, suprascapular nerve block and Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy in people with Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain, run by Kars State Hospital at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) with conventional treatment for hemiplegic shoulder pain. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 45 to 70 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain
What is being tested?
Conventional therapy group, suprascapular nerve block and Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
67 participants
Where
1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
Study dates
1 Apr 2023to 1 Jan 2024
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 45 to 70 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Patients diagnosed with hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke at least 3 months prior to enrollment.
  • Patients with shoulder pain of at least 5 cm on the 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS) following hemiplegia.
  • Patients aged 45-70 years.
  • Patients with partial tear of the supraspinatus muscle/tendon confirmed by ultrasonographic evaluation.

Who cannot join

  • Patients with limited cooperation.
  • Patients who received local anesthetic or corticosteroid injection to the shoulder region within the last 3 months.
  • Patients with a history of surgery or radiotherapy in the shoulder region.
  • Patients with pre-existing shoulder pain prior to the diagnosis of stroke.
  • Patients with a cardiac pacemaker.
  • Patients with malignancy or signs of acute inflammation in the treatment area.
  • Patients with coagulation disorders or an INR ≥ 4.
  • Patients with vascular conditions such as deep vein thrombosis, phlebitis, varicose veins, or arterial disease.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
  • Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital

    Istanbul, Başakşehir

Other trials in Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) with conventional treatment for hemiplegic shoulder pain. A total of 67 patients aged 45-70 years, treated at the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation at Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital between April 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024, were randomly assigned to three groups. The first group (n=24) received conventional treatment, the second group (n=22) received conventional treatment plus one session of ultrasound-guided suprascapular nerve block, and the third group (n=21) received conventional treatment plus ESWT applied for 2 weeks, 4 days per week at 12 Hz and 2-3 bars. All groups were evaluated clinically and ultrasonographically before treatment, at 1 month, and at 3 months. Pain intensity was assessed using the visual analog scale, upper extremity motor function with the Fugl-Meyer Motor Scale, and supraspinatus muscle tear size via ultrasound.

Read the detailed description

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) when added to conventional treatment in patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain.

A total of 67 patients aged 45 to 70 years who were treated at the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation at Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital between April 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024, were included in the study. Participants were randomly assigned into three groups. The first group (n = 24) received conventional treatment alone. The second group (n = 22) received conventional treatment combined with a single session of ultrasound-guided suprascapular nerve block (SSNB). The third group (n = 21) received conventional treatment combined with extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), applied for two weeks, four days per week, at a frequency of 12 Hz and an intensity of 2 to 3 bars.

All participants were evaluated clinically and ultrasonographically at baseline, at one month, and at three months. Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Upper extremity motor function was evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer Motor Scale (FMMS). Supraspinatus muscle tear size was measured using ultrasonography.

Being tested
Conventional therapy group, suprascapular nerve block, Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Conventional therapy groupOther

    Conventional treatment including transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, hot pack therapy for 4 weeks, and joint range of motion, stretching, and progressive resistive exercises performed 5 days per week for 12 weeks.

  • suprascapular nerve blockProcedure or surgery

    A single session of ultrasound-guided suprascapular nerve block administered prior to the conventional therapy program.

  • Extracorporeal Shock Wave TherapyDevice

    Extracorporeal shock wave therapy applied at 12 Hz frequency and 2-3 bars pressure, 4 days per week for 2 weeks, in addition to the conventional therapy program.

Study groups in NCT07485192
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Conventional TreatmentActive comparatorParticipants received conventional therapy including transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, hot pack therapy and joint range of motion, stretching, and progressive resistive exercises
Receives: Other: Conventional therapy group
Suprascapular Nerve Block plus Conventional TreatmentExperimentalParticipants received one session of ultrasound-guided suprascapular nerve block prior to conventional therapy, followed by the same conventional treatment protocol.
Receives: Procedure: suprascapular nerve block
ESWT plus Conventional TreatmentExperimentalParticipants received extracorporeal shock wave therapy in addition to the conventional treatment protocol.
Receives: Device: Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Visual Analog Scale

    The Visual Analog Scale will be used to assess the intensity of pain reported by participants. The scale consists of a 10-cm horizontal line anchored by two extremes: 0 = no pain and 10 = worst imaginable pain. Participants will mark the point on the line that best represents their pain intensity. The score will be determined by measuring the distance (in centimeters) from the "no pain" anchor to the participant's mark, with higher scores indicating greater pain intensity.

    Measured: Baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after treatment initiation.

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. Shoulder range of motion

    Maximum passive shoulder flexion, abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation, as well as the range of motion at pain onset, were measured using a goniometer while the patient was in the supine position. Measurements were recorded in degrees, and higher values indicate greater joint range of motion.

    Measured: Baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after treatment initiation.

  2. Presence of supraspinatus tendon tear

    The presence of a supraspinatus tendon tear was evaluated using ultrasonography with a branded ultrasound device. Imaging was performed by an experienced clinician.

    Measured: Baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after treatment initiation.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted20 Mar 2026
  2. Study start1 Apr 2023
  3. Primary completion1 Jan 2024
  4. Study completion1 Jan 2024

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
67 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07485192
Sponsor's protocol ID
2023.02.49
Acronym
ESWT-HSP
Status last verified
Mar 2026
First submitted
7 Mar 2026
Last updated
20 Mar 2026
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Kim SH, Ha KW, Kim YH, Seol PH, Kwak HJ, Park SW, Ryu BJ. Effect of Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain Syndrome. Ann Rehabil Med. 2016 Jun;40(3):509-19. doi: 10.5535/arm.2016.40.3.509. Epub 2016 Jun 29.

    PubMed 27446789

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Conventional therapy group, suprascapular nerve block and Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy in people with Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain, run by Kars State Hospital at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Visual Analog Scale (time frame: Baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after treatment initiation.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07485192, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Mar 2026.

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